Your 4 Week Financial Check-Up Challenge: Week 4

June 15, 2015

This week is the last in the Financial Check-Up series and the final opportunity to enter your name in a random drawing for a personal financial planning consultation. Multiple entries are acceptable so be sure to like Financial Finesse on Facebook (or like this blog), tweet us on Twitter, or enter your comments below to enter your name for a professionally guided financial check-up. All entries received by Friday, June 19 at 11:59 PM will be entered into the drawing and the winner of the financial planning consultation will be announced next week. (If the winner prefers to “pay it forward” the consultation is transferable and may be gifted to a friend or family member.) Continue reading “Your 4 Week Financial Check-Up Challenge: Week 4”

Your Financial Check-Up (Week 3): Achieve Your Most Important Financial Life Goals

June 08, 2015

It is week 3 of the Financial Check-Up Challenge and I’ve heard from readers who are participating in the challenge. I’ve also heard from others who basically told me, “I get it Scott. It’s important to check in occasionally to assess our financial health but LIFE HAPPENED and I didn’t get a chance.” Continue reading “Your Financial Check-Up (Week 3): Achieve Your Most Important Financial Life Goals”

Your 4 Week Financial Check-Up Challenge: Week 2

June 01, 2015

A couple of weeks ago marked the beginning of a Four Week Financial Check-Up Challenge. For some, these “best practice” financial behaviors are a part of the daily routine and you already create world class budgeting spreadsheets and could teach classes on making every dollar count. For others, just the thought of getting financially naked and examining the state of your financial affairs is a bit overwhelming. Continue reading “Your 4 Week Financial Check-Up Challenge: Week 2”

Happy Memorial Day!

May 25, 2015

We are taking a break from blogging today at Financial Finesse to spend time with family and friends. Next Monday, I will pick up with Week 2 in our Financial Check Up Challenge series. In the meantime, you can enter the challenge to win access to an unbiased financial coaching session with yours truly. Here is a link to last week’s blog that began the series.  Continue reading “Happy Memorial Day!”

Your 4 Week Financial Check-Up Challenge: Week 1

May 18, 2015

Live – Plan – Thrive!!! That is the simple and straightforward mantra that I use to explain the financial life planning process. When it comes to getting and keeping others engaged in the financial planning process, the biggest challenge isn’t usually related to financial knowledge. It’s a general lack of planning. As the old saying goes “people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” Continue reading “Your 4 Week Financial Check-Up Challenge: Week 1”

Slaying the Three Headed Debt Monster

May 11, 2015

I recently met with a couple (let’s call them James and Julia) in their early-40’s with two young children. I could feel the stress and tension enter the room before they even took a seat in my office. If you’ve ever been around friends that were obviously not getting along, you probably recognize that feeling as all positive energy exits the room the moment the couple in distress enters. This couple’s debt-related stress was not just affecting their relationship, it was starting to impact their friends. Even more potentially devastating, debt-related stress was starting to take a toll on their physical health and well-being. Continue reading “Slaying the Three Headed Debt Monster”

Should You Sacrifice Retirement to Pay For College Expenses?

April 27, 2015

Should you focus your financial plans on funding your children’s college education out-of-pocket or through parent loans? This is a question on the minds of many parents that I speak with on a regular basis (and also a question that I personally have to deal with having a third grader and a kindergartener growing up too fast). The retirement vs. education question gets even more challenging when children reach high school and the time horizon to save gets shorter. Continue reading “Should You Sacrifice Retirement to Pay For College Expenses?”

Why You Might Need Umbrella Liability Insurance

April 20, 2015

It is no secret that debt is a major obstacle on the path to financial wellness. Imagine what it would be liked to be saddled with a debt that follows you around for the rest of your life. There are many people that find themselves exactly in that position after a disastrous incident, and it’s not because they weren’t insured. It was because they weren’t adequately insured with the right type of insurance. Continue reading “Why You Might Need Umbrella Liability Insurance”

5 Things You Need To Know About Auto Insurance

April 13, 2015

If you own a vehicle, maintaining sufficient auto insurance coverage is a necessity. Unfortunately, this area of our financial lives can become easy to neglect over the years. This is why an annual review of our insurance policies should be part of the financial planning process and those auto insurance policies need more than just a passing glance. If for no other reason, a refresher on the basics of auto insurance can help save you money while providing reassurance that you are protected for those “life happens” moments that can occur while behind the wheel of an automobile. Here are 5 things to know about auto insurance: Continue reading “5 Things You Need To Know About Auto Insurance”

Are You Up To Our 30 Day Challenge?

April 06, 2015

Last Tuesday, President Obama proclaimed April 2015 as National Financial Capability Month and called “upon all Americans to observe this month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of financial principles and practices.” The goal is to “take time to increase our knowledge of our finances and encourage our friends and family to do the same.” He then pointed out the free financial resources available at MyMoney.gov, ConsumerFinance.gov, and 1-800-FED-INFO. Continue reading “Are You Up To Our 30 Day Challenge?”

Stop Going Through the Motions of Filing a Tax Return

March 30, 2015

Spring is a busy time of year here at Financial Finesse. While we are always busy providing financial guidance with passion and objectivity, the tax season and the April 15th deadline provide an extra sense of urgency for many callers reaching out to us on the Financial Helpline. Many of the income tax specific calls we receive can be characterized as information seeking and tend to be reactive discussions. When you think about the tax filing burdens created by a complicated tax code, the IRS can strike fear into hard working taxpayers to try and get things right. Continue reading “Stop Going Through the Motions of Filing a Tax Return”

Don’t Turn Divorce Into A Costly Donation

March 23, 2015

When marital relationships come to a messy end, it can be difficult for the couple to find anything to agree on. One thing that men and women going through divorce generally do agree on is that arguing about money is a top predictor of divorce. Research suggests that arguments about money early during a relationship increase the likelihood of divorce. Many individuals who have gone through a divorce can attest to the fact that money quarrels don’t always end after the divorce proceedings have ended. In today’s blog post, my colleague Paul Wannemacher explores the financial impact of this emotional life transition. Continue reading “Don’t Turn Divorce Into A Costly Donation”

How to Find Lost Money

March 16, 2015

A few weeks ago, a truck and the trailer attached to it were stolen from a hotel parking lot in the suburbs of Atlanta. Unfortunately, it seems like crimes like this happen on a daily basis. In the case of this particular theft, it is likely the nighttime bandits had no idea what they were actually stealing. Continue reading “How to Find Lost Money”

Is It Time to “Gamify” Your Financial Plan?

March 09, 2015

Managing finances can be a real challenge for many of us.When it comes to reaching our most important life goals, we’re not talking about a game here. We’re talking about something far more relevant in our lives such as our visions for the future, values, and life goals. Continue reading “Is It Time to “Gamify” Your Financial Plan?”

Financial Lessons From the “Game of Life”

March 02, 2015

Recently, my family had one of those cold, winter weekend days where the social calendar was completely empty: no birthday parties, no basketball games, no play dates, and no plans. I am usually very eager to get out and explore all of the beauty outside of our little casa but my initial reaction was relief and joy because the “Mom & Dad shuttle” was staying at home for a change. This was an excellent plan until the excitement of a lazy stay-at-home day getting some household chores wore off and Monster #1 and Monster #2 decided they could no longer coexist peacefully in our house. Continue reading “Financial Lessons From the “Game of Life””

How To Overcome Financial Avoidance

February 23, 2015

I have had the privilege to work with so many incredible people throughout my career as a financial planning professional. Imagine having the opportunity to listen to people as they share their unique life stories, talk about current challenges, and explore future life goals. Money is a powerful force in our lives and how we choose to use it is up to each individual. What’s even more amazing to me is the fact that the topic of money is not something that everyone is comfortable talking to others about. But sometimes the type of person that needs the most financial guidance is also one of the most challenging groups of people to actually get in front of – these are the money avoiders. Continue reading “How To Overcome Financial Avoidance”

Last Minute Tax Savings With An HSA

February 16, 2015

In recent weeks, millions of taxpayers have been realizing the true impact of the Affordable Care Act as they file their tax returns. It’s probably no surprise the individual mandate required most Americans to have health insurance coverage as of January 1, 2014. If you had employer-provided health insurance coverage for most of 2014 or you purchased coverage through a private exchange or directly from an insurance company, the health insurance mandate will not have an impact your taxes. Continue reading “Last Minute Tax Savings With An HSA”

Obamacare Tax Forms Are Coming to a Mailbox Near You

February 09, 2015

I just got done pitching out a foot-high pile of holiday sale catalogs, magazines that I never got to read over the holidays, and donation requests from charities and schools that for some reason didn’t feel like I paid them enough tuition while there as a student. Am I the only one out there who’s looking online for a new smaller mailbox?  But just when we thought it’s safe to downsize our mailboxes, the Affordable Care Act (also known as the “ACA” and “Obamacare”) and IRS regulations have added more mail to the winter pile-up, the new series of IRS information forms that support whether you have health insurance that complies with the “Obamacare” rules.  These forms started showing up late this January and will every year after. Continue reading “Obamacare Tax Forms Are Coming to a Mailbox Near You”

One Word That Can Change Your Financial Life

February 02, 2015

Can one single word change your financial life and perhaps completely change your life story? Sound a little too simplistic? Before you dismiss the possibility that one single word can have transformational powers, ask yourself one question – Is my financial life just a little bit complicated? Continue reading “One Word That Can Change Your Financial Life”